While Canada invests billions in infrastructure projects and national defence , a critical area of investment remains overlooked: biomanufacturing .
Authors
- Megan Levings
Professor of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia
- Robert A. Holt
Professor, Simon Fraser University
Biomanufacturing is the production of biological products like vaccines and cell therapies at the scale and quality needed for human use. It encompasses everything needed to reliably produce and deliver safe, effective biological products from development to commercial-scale production.
This sector requires not only physical infrastructure like bioreactors, clean rooms and equipment, but also the availability of skilled personnel, robust supply chains and quality control - all operating under strict regulatory requirements.
Amid Canada's ongoing tariff tensions with the United States , investing in domestic biomanufacturing is a way for Canada to strengthen its economic independence while securing critical health infrastructure.
A wake-up call for Canada
Canada once boasted world-class biomanufacturing capacity, particularly in vaccine production. Over the past few decades, however, domestic investment in this sector withered away .
Funding for research, training and infrastructure declined, and as a result, much of the industry migrated to the United States , where more start-up capital, larger markets and more extensive infrastructure supported its growth.
The COVID-19 pandemic made the consequences of this decline painfully clear. Billions of dollars were spent importing life-saving vaccines and therapeutics that could have been made here. While Canada's dependence on foreign manufacturing predates the pandemic, the crisis highlighted the urgent need for domestic capacity.
Future pandemics are unpredictable, and new Canadian manufacturing infrastructure needs to be poised to act. This is especially important given ongoing vaccine skepticism and hesitancy .
If Canadians need a new vaccine, the country must be able to produce it domestically and support other countries lacking access.
Missed opportunities
Biomanufacturing has expanded beyond vaccines and monoclonal antibodies to include cell and gene therapies and new drug types, such as those based on RNA .
These advanced therapeutic products are highly innovative, but don't fit neatly into traditional developmental pipelines or regulatory frameworks. Without the necessary manufacturing processes and infrastructure, countries can miss out on economic and health benefits and are vulnerable to future pandemics.
For example, the research to develop the lipid nanoparticle component of an mRNA vaccine was conducted in Canada . Yet when it came time to manufacture, test and distribute the vaccine, Canada lacked the infrastructure and had to rely on foreign suppliers.
Historically, Canada has excelled at research but has struggled to translate breakthroughs into domestic production . With the right investment, Canada could actually reap the benefits of its own innovations.
Recognizing this gap, the federal government has invested $2.3 billion since 2023 to build new facilities capable of manufacturing biologics at the speed and scale for future pandemic responses. These investments also aim to revitalize Canada's capacity for producing other, more conventional drugs.
But more sustained investments are needed - ones on par with funding for other infrastructure projects and national defence. The biomanufacturing sector offers tremendous opportunity for economic growth, significant health benefits for Canadians, and pandemic-preparedness.
The biotech boom
Gaps in Canada's biomanufacturing capacity spurred the creation of a new coalition led by the University of British Columbia. Known as Canada's ImmunoEngineering and Biomanufacturing Hub , it brings together more than 50 organizations from the private, public, not-for-profit and academic sectors to strengthen life sciences and biomanufacturing capacity in B.C.
It aims to accelerate applied biomedical research, train highly skilled workers and expand domestic infrastructure.
It's part of a broader $574 million federal commitment supporting 19 projects at 14 research institutions across Canada . Investing in new infrastructure is an important step toward rebuilding and bolstering domestic biomanufacturing in Canada.
We are part of the coalition's research leadership group and the leads on its flagship infrastructure project, the Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility , which is being built on the UBC campus. This facility, spanning approximately 20,000 square feet, will support the production of advanced therapeutic products like vaccines, cell therapies and regenerative medicines.
It will accelerate the commercialization of Canadian innovations, enhance patient care and position Canada as a global epicentre of biomanufacturing while leveraging Vancouver's biotech boom .
Construction of the facility has begun, with an estimate of March 2028 for opening operations. Projects will include modifying immune cells to fight cancer and protect against autoimmune disease and transplant rejection, as well as turning stem cells into therapies that heal or replace terminally damaged organs.
From research to market
Pandemic-prepared facilities have the potential to generate wide-ranging health benefits for Canada. A critical function of facilities like the Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility is moving innovative therapies from early-stage research to clinical trials and, ultimately, market approval.
In addition to their health benefits, advanced therapeutics can have significant economic impact. Their curative potential allows companies to benefit from premium pricing , with high upfront costs justified by reduced long-term health-care costs.
Subsequent generic versions of these biological products, termed biosimilars, can provide safe, effective and economical alternatives. Ultimately, domestic manufacturing allows greater pricing control and allows health-care dollars to stay in Canada.
The biomanufacturing industry also creates high-quality jobs , boosts national innovation ecosystems, attracts large-scale venture capital funding and supports pharmaceutical partnerships.
Canada's bioeconomy is expected to need approximately 65,000 jobs by 2029, making workforce training a critical priority . State-of-the-art training facilities will produce a highly qualified workforce and ensure these skilled personnel remain in Canada.
Investing in domestic infrastructure also strengthens Canada's export potential. Adding advanced therapeutic products into the country's export portfolio will give it an important trade advantage and allow Canada to become a global player in biomanufacturing.
Megan Levings receives funding from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and BC Knowledge Development Fund for the ATMF Project.
Robert A. Holt receives funding from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and BC Knowledge Development Fund for the ATMF Project.
